Let the media report, its good for the nation, says G25 founding member

KUALA LUMPUR: G25 founding member Mohd Sheriff Mohd Kassim said the media should not be targeted for doing their job in reporting current issues for the understanding of the public.

“The media should be free to report and express their views to society and there should not be any attempt to muzzle the media.

“It is time for the government to realise that freedom of information and open debates are important not only for a healthy democracy but also for a healthy economy,” he told reporters after launching G25’s “Invigorating Economic Confidence in Malaysia” report today.

Sheriff’s comment came after two Umno Youth leaders blasted two news portals while participating in the debate at the current Umno general assembly at the Putra World Trade Centre.

Umno Tasek Gelugor youth division chief Nashrol Hisham Abdullah had called on the government to investigate The Malaysian Insight (TMI) for allegedly carrying news reports that insulted Umno president Najib Razak and other leaders.

Razlan Rafii, the Federal Territories Youth chief, meanwhile, had claimed that the opposition was using news portals to “spread lies and insults”.

Sheriff, who was secretary general of the finance ministry until 1994, said the general public would suffer if they were denied information.

“When people are kept in the dark on current issues, that is what often leads to abuse of power, corruption, injustice.

“Even investors are very worried if issues are swept under the carpet or kept in the dark,” he said, adding that only when issues were openly debated could there be solutions to problems. -FMT